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EP-4735909-A1 - OPTICAL SENSOR SYSTEM

EP4735909A1EP 4735909 A1EP4735909 A1EP 4735909A1EP-4735909-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor system (10) comprising an optical reception device (12) configured to receive an optical signal (L) over an optical path from a monitoring area (32), wherein the optical sensor system (10) is configured to monitor the monitoring area (32) using the optical signal (L), wherein the optical sensor system (10) further comprises a housing (11) with a first cover (14) and a second cover (16) arranged in the optical path, wherein the second cover (16) comprises elastic material. The disclosure further relates to a use of the optical sensor system (10) in a vehicle (30), a system comprising the optical sensor system (10) and a vehicle (30).

Inventors

  • PARL, CHRISTOPH
  • SCHULER, THOMAS
  • HORVATH, PETER
  • Buchgraber, Klaus
  • YANG, Haiyue
  • NOUVEL, CLEMENT

Assignees

  • Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240618

Claims (16)

  1. 1. Optical sensor system (10) comprising an optical reception device (12) configured to receive an optical signal (L) over an optical path from a monitoring area (32), wherein the optical sensor system (10) is configured to monitor the monitoring area (32) using the optical signal (L), wherein the optical sensor system (10) further comprises a housing (11) with a first cover (14) and a second cover (16) arranged in the optical path, wherein the second cover (16) comprises elastic material.
  2. 2. Optical sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the first cover (14) and the second cover (16) are transparent with respect to a range of optical frequencies, wherein the range of frequencies is around the frequency of the optical signal (L).
  3. 3. Optical sensor system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second cover (16) is configured to be arranged in between the first cover (14) and a third cover (18, 20, 22) and to make an optical connection in between the first cover (14) and the third cover (18, 20, 22).
  4. 4. Optical sensor system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cover (16) comprises adhesive material.
  5. 5. Optical sensor system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cover (16) is configured to attach the optical sensor system (10) to the third cover (20, 22).
  6. 6. Optical sensor system according to claim 5, wherein the second cover (16) is configured to attach the optical sensor system (10) to an interface structure (24) of the third cover (22).
  7. 7. Optical sensor system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the third cover (20, 22) comprises one of a windshield (20), a radiator grille, a bumper (22), a headlight, a window, or a pillar cover of a vehicle (30).
  8. 8. Optical sensor system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cover (16) comprises silicone gel or silicone rubber.
  9. 9. Optical sensor system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first cover (14), the second cover (16) and/or the third cover (18, 20, 22) comprise a heating device.
  10. 10. Optical sensor system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the refractive index of the second cover (16) is in between the refractive index of the first cover (14) and the refractive index of the third cover (18, 20, 22).
  11. 11. Optical sensor system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the refractive index of the second cover (16) is roughly in the middle between the refractive index of the first cover (14) and the refractive index of the third cover (18, 20, 22).
  12. 12. Optical sensor system according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the refractive index of at least two of the covers (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) is the same.
  13. 13. Use of the optical sensor system (10) according to one of the preceding claims in a vehicle (30).
  14. 14. System comprising the optical sensor system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and the third cover (18, 20, 22).
  15. 15. System comprising according to claim 14, wherein the third cover (22) comprises the interface structure (24).
  16. 16. Vehicle (30) comprising the system according to claim 14 or 15.

Description

OPTICAL SENSOR SYSTEM Field The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor system and a use of the optical sensor system in a vehicle. The disclosure further relates to a system comprising the optical sensor system and a vehicle. Background Modern vehicles like cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, etc. may comprise sensor systems, whose data are used for driver information and/or are used by driver assistance systems. Sensor systems are constantly being developed for various functions, e. g. for the acquisition of environmental information in the near and far range of vehicles, such as passenger cars or commercial vehicles. Based on the acquired data, a model of the vehicle environment can be generated and a reaction to changes in this vehicle environment is possible. Sensor systems can also serve as sensors for driver assistance systems, in particular assistance systems for autonomous or semi-auton- omous vehicle control. They can for example be used to detect obstacles and/or other road users in the front, rear or blind spot areas of a vehicle. An important optical sensor principle for environment detection, e. g. of vehicles, is the lidar technology (lidar: light detection and ranging). A lidar system comprises an optical transmission device and an optical reception device. The transmission device emits an optical signal, which can be continuous or pulsed. In addition, the optical signal may be modulated. For example, electromagnetic waves in the form of laser beams in the ultraviolet, visual or infrared range may be used as optical signals in a lidar system. The light is received by the optical reception device after reflection from an object in a monitoring area of the lidar system. The optical signal can for example be evaluated according to a time-of-flight method and the spatial position and distance of the object on which the reflection occurred can be determined. In addition, it may be possible to determine a relative velocity. Reflection or reflected light is understood to mean any light that is reflected back and should also include, in particular, light that is reflected back by scattering or absorption emission. Another example for an optical sensor system is the capture of images by a camera. Summary An optical sensor system comprises an optical reception device configured to receive an optical signal over an optical path from a monitoring area, wherein the optical sensor system is configured to monitor the monitoring area using the optical signal, wherein the optical sensor system further comprises a housing with a first cover and a second cover arranged in the optical path, wherein the second cover comprises elastic material. The optical sensor system may comprise a camera. The optical reception device may comprise an image sensor of the camera. Optionally, the optical sensor system may also comprise an optical transmission device configured to transmit the optical signal. The optical sensor system may comprise a lidar system. The second cover comprising the elastic material allows to compensate for tolerances between the first pane and any other surfaces and to adapt to different contours. The housing may be designed to protect the components of the optical sensor system from environmental impact like e. g. dust, humidity, wind. The optical signal of the optical sensor system is transmitted and/or received via an aperture in the housing, which is covered by the first cover. The first cover may comprise material which lets optical signal pass, like e. g. plastics or glass. The first cover may comprise rigid material in order to enhance the mechanic stability of the housing and to properly protect the components of the optical sensor system. The second cover is arranged in the optical path of the optical signal and preferably attached to the first cover facing outward of the housing. The elasticity of the second cover allows for the optical sensor system to be arranged in the vicinity of a third cover, which may comprise a hard surface, wherein a gap between the first cover and the third cover can be avoided. A possible gap between the first cover and the third cover can be filled with the elastic second cover. The elasticity of the second cover may allow to fill the gap. This avoids the transition of the optical signal via air in between the first and the third cover. This reduces attenuation in the optical path, because reflections and total reflections can be reduced. The second cover further allows to avoid the gap, which may prevent dirt, condensation, algae formation and similar to form between the first cover and the third cover. Avoiding the gap may avoid interference with the optical path and reflections between the first cover and the third cover. This may improve the optical detection quality. Ghosting and blooming may also be avoided. In an embodiment of the optical sensor system the first cover and the second cover are transparent with respect to a range of optical frequenc